Dengue and coffee rust are just two of the pests that are spreading in Costa Rica due to changing climate conditions. Dengue mosquitos were historically found in warmer, humid areas at altitudes below 1,000 meters. In recent years, however, they have also been found in the country’s central region and even in some mountainous areas. In addition to impacts on coffee and health, there also cases of pests affecting banana, palm, orange and chayote. (El Financiero 2/4/2014)

Mexico

During the C40 Cities Climate Leader meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, the Head of the Mexico City Government, Miguel Ángel Mancera, detailed all the work his city has done and will do to create “Smart Cities, Livable Cities.” In 2013, Mexico City doubled the existing bikeways by constructing 28.5 more kilometers of cycle infrastructure. Last year was also the second cleanest year in the last few decades for the city, which was recognized by the C40 Air Quality Award. Ángel Mancera also plans to install five new black carbon monitoring stations this year. La Paz in Baja California Sur is another city that is making changes to boost sustainability, including the construction of one of the largest solar plants in Latin America. The park, which includes 130,000 solar panels, will substitute some of the fossil fuels used by the city and eventually will help inject power into the Federal Energy Commission’s electric system. The plant will also help reduce CO2 emissions by 60,000 tons. (Aztecas Noticias 2/6/2014, Suelo Solar 2/4/2014)

In addition to marshes, rivers, coral reefs and oases, Mexico is home to 5% of the world’s mangroves, and the country ranks 4th largest out of 125 countries that have this type of ecosystem. Mexico’s mangroves are home to a wide variety of life and as such the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources is making it a governmental priority to preserve and protect these ecosystems. (Crónica 2/2/2014)

Gerardo Ceballos, a professor of ecology and conservation of wildlife at National Autonomous University of Mexico, calls for Mexico to have an environmental reform as the country has already spearheaded fiscal, energy and educational ones. The two biggest environmental issues he mentions are deforestation and conservation of wildlife. Mexico has lost 400 thousand hectares per year of forests and jungles, so Ceballos posits a reforestation plan that will prevent further deforestation and produce jobs in rural areas. He also highlights that Mexico is home to a large number of endemic creatures, such as the vaquita, that the country needs to help preserve. (Hoy Tamaulipas 2/4/2014)

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